Kishor Kunal Kashyap, UGC NET English topper shared his preparation strategy and success story with Shiksha. Read the complete interview to know about the preparation strategy and tips to crack UGC NET exam.
Meet Kishor Kunal Kashyap, who is a testament to true hard work and dedication. Kunal switched to English Literature as a Master's after his graduation in Physics honors due to his interest and love for literature. After completing his master's Kunal decided to take one of the toughest and sought exams in India, UGC NET. Kunal was unable to take any coaching classes or hire a private tutor for the preparation.He started off by setting a rigorous study schedule for himself which included hours of devotion to self-study.
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On the day of the exam, Kunal was confident and well-prepared. He tackled questions with ease, drawing upon her extensive knowledge and training and when the results were announced, Kunal's hard work and determination paid off. This was a proud moment for Kunal and his family, and it was well-deserved recognition.
The candidates preparing for the UGC NET exam can go through the interview with Twinkle to get the UGC NET preparation strategy and tips to crack the exam.
Tell us something about your background?
- Kishor Kunal Kashyap is my name. After finishing my degree in science, I decided to major in literature. My interest in literature led me to get a master's degree in the subject from Central University, where I also qualified for the National Eligibility Test (NET) with a score of 98.99 percent. My study involves looking at the tale of Sita from new angles i.e. Myth and Literature.
Why you’ve chosen this exam? Which other exams did you appear in and which you have been able to crack?
- I've always wanted to help others learn through teaching, and passing the UGC NET test is one of the prerequisites. I decided to take the test since I'm fascinated by the study area. I have appeared for the NDA, SSC, BPSC(Lecturer) and qualified for the preliminary stage
Also Read: UGC NET Topper English Sucess Story and Preparation Tips
How much time did you prepare for the UGC NET exam? Did you crack it in the first attempt?
- I dedicated 6 months to preparing for the exam. It was my first attempt and yes, I cracked it also, consecutively cleared in December too. Twice a year.
Tell us about the challenges you faced while preparing for the exam.
- There is a variety of information and resources, and the curriculum covers a vast amount of ground because of recent additions. The biggest obstacles are managing time effectively and finishing all the course material.
Did you take any coaching for the exam? If yes, from where and for how long? If not, how you managed to do self-study?
- I decided against enrolling in a prep course. I learned a lot from the many videos available on YouTube that assisted me in passing the UGC NET exam. With the aid of the videos and books, I compiled my own notes, which proved to be quite useful. To pass the test, you must practice using questions from the previous year.
How to prepare for UGC NET exam? Tell us the strategy you applied to prepare for the exam.
- Read as much as you can from the PYQs. The only way to really grasp the pattern is via repeated application. Knowing how much time should be spent on each unit requires familiarity with the course outline. Each of the two papers is worth 10 units. Paper 1 is a prerequisite that must be passed before moving on to Paper 2. Common sense and the basics are covered in Paper 1. An informative book would be very useful. You have three hours to complete 150 questions on a test, so time management is crucial. Time-consuming components of Paper 1 include mathematical reasoning, logical reasoning, and data analysis.
Also Read: Succes Story of Komal Sharma (UGC NET Topper Political Science)
Tell us about the UGC NET study routine?
- Regularly engaging in the practice of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and developing a comprehensive comprehension of the underlying ideas hold significant importance. A daily practice duration of 6 to 7 hours would likely prove to be enough.
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What should be the section-wise preparation strategy?
- Spend your time wisely considering your abilities and limitations. You may save time by skimming through the material you already know well. When it comes to the unfamiliar material, take the time to read it through and take notes.
Can you refer to some good books for UGC NET preparation?
- I can't say that about the books but the books best worked for me are:
- Routledge by Ronal Carter, William j long
- Beginning Theory by Peter Bary, An Introduction to Cultural Studies. Pramod K. Nayar
- Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory
- Book by Pramod K Nayar
- R Gupta’s Pyqs
What according to you were the easiest and toughest sections?
- All of Paper 1 was unfamiliar to me, making it difficult to figure out how to study for it. While I knew some of the material in Paper 2, there was a lot that I didn't know. It was challenging for me to remember and study the material on cultural studies and literary theory that was included. Data interpretation, logical thinking, and mathematical reasoning were not difficult for me.
How you tackled your strong and weak areas?
- Since it's not a good idea to try to learn anything new or challenging just before an exam, I had a decent grasp of the topics in my weak areas from the minute I began studying. One month before the test, one should sit down with a stopwatch to practice multiple-choice questions (MCQs) following the exam's format.
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After clearing the UGC NET exam, how can anyone find a job?
- If you pass the test, you may go on to JRF's PhD programme. Aspirants may be mentored. One may work as an assistant professor or a research fellow depending on their area of expertise.
What are your hobbies? Did you attribute it to the preparation?
- I like poetry writing, reading, and taking on difficult new experiences. I credit my success to my doggedness and willingness to take risks.
Read More: Shivani Karn UGC NET English Literature Topper Interview

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Student Forum
Answered 2 days ago
ସରକାର ଏ ମାନଂକୁ free ଛାଡି ଦେଇଛି
F
Beginner-Level 2
Answered a week ago
The NTA opens the UGC NET 2025 Application correction window from November 10 to 12, 2025 at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The Registration process was closed on November 7.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
No. The authority has not released the UGC NET certificate for the December session 2025. The exam is scheduled to be conducted from December 31 to January 7, 2026.
I
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
The authority will release the UGC NET certificate on the official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in and also on the e-certificate portal at ecertificate.nta.ac.in. Candidates can download it by using their login credentials including the application number and password or date of birth.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
- Visit at ugcnet.nta.nic.in
- Click on the link available for the answer key
- Use application number and password or the application number and date of birth to open the link
- Enter the application number, password/date of birth, and security pin (as shown on the screen)
- Click on Sign In and submit the Chal
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
The UGC NET answer key challenge fee per question is INR 200. It is non refundable whether the challenge is accepted or rejected. It can be paid online via debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI. Challenges made by the candidates will be verified by the panel of subject experts.
G
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
It is released by the National Testing Agency NTA a few days after the exam is conducted. The answer key helps candidates in calculating their probable scores and checking the accuracy of their responsesThe details provided on the UGC NET answer key are mentioned below:
- Exam date
- Exam shift
- Exam subjec
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Candiates can check below the steps to download the UGC NET question papers:
- Visit at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the answer key & question paper link.
- Login using the required details.
- Download the question paper PDF
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
To give mock test is important. It helps them to find out strengths and weaknesses. regular practice also improves speed, gain confidence, reduce the exam pressure, helps to understand the exam pattern, improves speed, etc.
G
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Analysis is crucial for a candidate in the NTA NET exam. It helps to strategize the preparation, understand the paper structure, difficulty level, topics asked or high weightage areas, expected cutoff, etc.
K
Contributor-Level 6
Exam On - 31 Dec '25 - 7 Jan '26
